Basilica di San Frediano

A detail on the façade of the Basilica di San Frediano may already have caught your eye. The church was founded in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 12th century. You may have noticed its remarkable Romanesque architecture or, more likely, the immense golden mosaic crowning the white limestone façade which depicts the Ascension of Christ. In the upper section, at the centre of the composition, Christ is shown being carried toward the sky by angels with outstretched wings. Just below, the twelve apostles stand in a row watching him. The Virgin Mary originally stood at the centre of this group, but her image was removed to make way for the window you see today. The mosaic is made up of thousands of coloured glass and stone tesserae. Some contain fine sheets of gold placed between two layers of glass. In direct sunlight, these fragments reflect the light and give the whole mosaic a soft, shifting glow that changes throughout the day. Inside the basilica rests the body of Saint Zita, a humble 13th century servant who is highly venerated in Lucca. According to tradition, she secretly distributed her masters’ bread to the poor. When she was caught by her master, the bread miraculously turned into roses in her apron. After her death, her body was found intact. This contributed to her reputation for holiness and eventually to her canonisation. You may also have noticed something else rising above the roof of this beautiful basilica. At just over 55 metres high, the campanile of San Frediano is the second tallest bell tower in the city of Lucca. It stands out because its windows become more numerous at each level. This progression helped to lighten the structure and also allowed the sound of the bells to carry more effectively throughout the city.